According to your faith be it unto you
William MacDonald teaches that the measure of a believer's blessings and victories corresponds directly to the depth of their faith grounded in God's promises.
In this teaching sermon, William MacDonald explores the profound truth that the blessings and victories believers receive are directly linked to the measure of their faith grounded in God's promises. Using biblical examples such as Jesus healing the blind men and King Joash's limited victories, MacDonald challenges listeners to deepen their trust in God beyond mere wishful thinking. He encourages a life of faith that balances obedience, trust, and practical wisdom, illustrating how God's choicest blessings flow to those who fully rely on Him.
Text
“According to your faith be it unto you.” (Matthew 9:29)
When Jesus asked two blind men if they believed that He was able to give them sight, they replied that they did. As He touched their eyes, He said, “According to your faith be it unto you,” and their eyes were opened.
It would be easy to conclude from this that if we just have enough faith, we can get anything we want, whether wealth, healing, or whatever. But that is not the case. Faith must be based upon some word of the Lord, some promise of God, some command of Scripture. Otherwise it is nothing more than wishful credulity.
What we learn from our text is that the extent to which we appropriate the promises of God depends on the measure of our faith. After promising King Joash that he would have victory over the Syrians, Elisha told him to smite the ground with his arrows. Joash smote three times, then stopped. Elisha angrily announced that the king would have only three victories over Syria whereas he could have had five or six (2 Kings 13:14-19). The measure of his victory depended on his faith.
It is that way in the life of discipleship. We are called to walk by faith, to forsake all. We are forbidden to lay up treasures on earth. How far do we dare to go in obeying these commands? Should we do away with life insurance, health insurance, savings accounts, stocks and bonds? The answer is, “According to your faith be it unto you.” If you have faith to say, “I will work hard for my current needs and the needs of my family, put everything above that in the work of the Lord, and trust God for the future,” then you can be absolutely certain that the Lord will take care of your future. He has said that He would and His word cannot fail. If, on the other hand, we feel we should exercise “human prudence” by providing for a rainy day, God will still love us and will still use us according to the measure of our faith.
The life of faith is like the waters that flow from the Temple in Ezekiel 47. You can go in to your ankles, to your knees, to your loins—or, better still, you can swim in them.
God’s choicest blessings, of course, are for those who trust Him most fully. Once we have proved His faithfulness and sufficiency, we want to put away the crutches, props and pillows of “common sense.” Or, as someone has said, “Once you walk on the water, you never want to ride in a boat again.”
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the power of faith in healing
- Jesus' interaction with the two blind men
- Meaning of 'According to your faith be it unto you'
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II
- Faith must be based on God's promises, not wishful thinking
- Example of King Joash and Elisha's prophecy
- The consequences of limited faith
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III
- Faith in daily discipleship and obedience
- Balancing trust in God with practical prudence
- God’s blessings increase with the depth of faith
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IV
- The life of faith compared to the waters in Ezekiel 47
- Encouragement to trust God fully and forsake worldly crutches
- Conclusion: Walking on water vs. riding in a boat
Key Quotes
“Faith must be based upon some word of the Lord, some promise of God, some command of Scripture. Otherwise it is nothing more than wishful credulity.” — William MacDonald
“The measure of his victory depended on his faith.” — William MacDonald
“Once you walk on the water, you never want to ride in a boat again.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Trust God fully by grounding your faith in His promises rather than in wishful thinking.
- Evaluate your level of faith and consider how it affects your obedience and the blessings you receive.
- Balance practical wisdom with wholehearted trust in God's provision and care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does having faith guarantee we get everything we want?
No, faith must be based on God's promises and not on mere wishful thinking.
How does faith affect the blessings we receive?
The extent of blessings and victories we experience corresponds to the measure of our faith in God's word.
Should Christians avoid all forms of financial planning to demonstrate faith?
Faith involves trusting God while also exercising wisdom; believers can provide for needs while prioritizing God's work.
What is the significance of the story of King Joash?
It illustrates how limited faith results in limited victories, showing the importance of persistent trust in God.
What does 'According to your faith be it unto you' mean for daily living?
It means that how far we go in trusting and obeying God determines the measure of His blessings in our lives.